I was so sleepy.
I walked through the corridor with my half-asleep body.
After finally arriving in front of the women's changing room, I halted and checked my appearance.
Alright, there shouldn't be anything wrong with my clothes.
Casually looking outside from the window, the sun was almost gone, and I could see the dusky sky and clouds. I wanted to thank the Great Spirit of the Sun once more for bringing today's events. I offered my prayer towards the withdrawing sun.
「Minith, what are you doing there?」
Hearing a familiar voice behind me, I opened my eyes and turned around. Standing there was one of my fellow maids.
「I was only looking outside. Locary, are you also done with your work?」
「Yes. It was the same old work.」
Locary was a non-exclusive maid. I'd been hired in Nyuneri Castle two years earlier than her, so she was my junior even though our age was the same.
Also because our age was the same and both of us were commoners from the castle town, she was my best friend.
I opened the door to the women's changing room and entered inside with Locary. It was deadly silent inside, and it looked like the others hadn't come yet.
Both of us released a breath. Only maids could enter this room, so it was fine to relax a little in here.
In a lighthearted voice, Locary spoke:
「Minith and the others must've been very busy because Young Master has returned this noon.」
「Yes, we were busy because Young Master's back…」
Ever since we'd been told that Young Master would be returning to Nyuneri Castle, his personal maids had been very busy every day. Especially today, which was the day of his return. It was tough because we'd all been working from early in the morning.
But, my efforts had been rewarded
「What's wrong? You look very tired… Your beloved Young Master is back, right? He might not call you out again if you look like that, you know?」
「Eh…? A-ahaha, is that so?」
Sweat dripped down. I guess she would never imagine that I was just called out a while ago. Probably because she saw that I was hesitant to speak, Locary cheerfully consoled me.
「Cheer up! You're the first chosen woman, have some confidence!」
The first woman…
Before Young Master left for his first campaign, I became his woman. After we had sex, Tesh-sama and the Head Maid had asked me about it in detail. I was so embarrassed that my face was bright red. In the end, they concluded that there was no problem, and felt relieved. I think the person who felt the most relieved was me because I'd been set free from their interrogation.
It would've been nice if it ended there, but the fact that I slept with Young Master quickly became known because several maids were called out to clean the room.
And so, I'd become famous among the maids in the castle as the first maid who slept with Young Master. I was happy when he called me out, but I honestly felt very embarrassed.
「Ahh, I also want a man who will give me a beautiful dress and hug me tightly… 」
When she heard that I'd become Young Master's woman, Locary pestered me about it. Around that time, the hottest topic among the maids was about who was going to be Young Master's first woman among us. No one probably expected that I would be the first one, considering that there were so many others more beautiful than me.
During that day of my first time, I was slightly excited, and I wanted someone to hear me out. After work on our way home, I talked to Locary about it, including the fact that young master handed over a beautiful dress which looked like the ones that noblewomen would wear.
「That dress wasn't prepared for me. It was a sample.」
「Eh～? That's definitely a liee!」
Showing a playful smile, Locary continued.
「The dress was perfectly fit for you. Furthermore, he remembered your name and treated you nicely. So, can you really say that it was all a coincidence? 」
「But, I was told that…」
「Young Master was just embarrassed! He was hiding his embarrassment and showed the dress to you while pretending that it was a sample, I'm sure! Wow, you're really loved. Perhaps you might get called tonight?」
She was probably trying to cheer me up since she saw me looking tired. But when she put it that way, I felt that she might be correct. Maybe she was right, that Young Master prepared that wonderful dress for me. Oh no, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
As Locary was getting all worked up while screaming, I was desperately trying to hide my smiling face.
「You two, I can clearly hear your voices from the corridor.」
Along with those words, the Head Maid walked briskly inside the room. Locary and I reflexively held our breath. Sharply looking at the two of us, the head maid spoke.
「Even though this is the changing room, it's still inside Nyuneri Castle. You shouldn't make so much noise like a town girl.」
Ah, we were definitely going to receive her scolding.
「Especially you, Locary. It's outrageous to make unjustified suspicions on Young Master's thoughts. Come to my room before you head home. It looks like I'll need to straighten your attitude as a maid.」
「Yes…」
Locary hung her head.
She was just trying to cheer me up. Sorry, Locary.
「And you, Minith. Why do you look like that?」
「Eh?」
I didn't expect her words. There was nothing wrong with my clothes… and there were no wet parts too.
「I'm not referring to your clothes. You received Young Master's love a while ago, correct? Afterward, did you not look in front of a mirror when you wore your clothes? 」
「Eeehhh?! Minith, you made love with Young Master today?!」
Locary raised a loud voice… and received the head maid's scolding. Silly girl.
Still, there was no need for the Head Maid to talk about that matter here.
「Um, I haven't looked in front of a mirror. 」
「Then do so next time. There are marks on your neck, and it might arouse other men. Young Master seem to like you, so there probably won't be any men who will lay their hands on you here in the castle, but that won't be the case when you're in the castle town.」
「Ah, Minith, you have kiss marks on your neck. I didn't notice it because of the sunset. 」
I see.
There was a novel that had been getting popular among the maids. Apparently, kiss marks would remain when kissed on the neck and the breast area. In that novel, there was a scene where the female protagonist wanted to keep the man's love all to herself. When they were having sex, she sucked his neck and left a mark to show off to the other women that the man belonged to her.
I couldn't see my neck, but there seemed to be a red mark. Young master left a mark on my neck? I felt very pleased when I thought of that.
「It will attract good-for-nothing men, so stop smiling there and quickly cover it with a cloth. Besides, you might earn the resentment from your seniors who wanted to receive young master's love.」
「Y-yes!」
I kind of felt like I wanted to show it off, but I didn't want to invite unnecessary troubles. If by any chance that Young Master heard about it, it would be very embarrassing.
Locary pointed the red marks, and I wrapped a cloth around my neck. The head maid waited for me to finish covering it up, and spoke.
「Concerning the compensation for being called out by Young Master, it would be added to your salary. But, the compensation won't be comparable to the first time. 」
My salary last month was very great. I lost my virginity when I had sex with young master, and the compensation for that had been included in my salary.
But I wasn't really happy about it. For some reason, it made me feel that I was only aiming for the money. I didn't feel the sense of achievement when my salary increased due to my own hard work. If anything, I didn't want to accept it. There was no need for me to worry about this problem, I thought.
「Um…」
「I won't approve of you not accepting it.」
Her flat out response completely read what I wanted to say, so I was shocked. How did she know…? The head maid was amazing.
「I understand that you don't want to accept the money. 」
I nodded quietly.
「However, you have to consider your master. If you don't accept the money, other people would think that Young Master is a stingy person who won't pay his maid for making her his woman. Is that what you want? 」
「No.」
「Then accept it. It's for your young master.」
I absolutely didn't want others to talk bad about Young Master because of me. Being a burden to him was the last thing I wanted to do.
I looked at the Head Maid, and quietly nodded.
「Let me give you a piece of advice. If you don't know how to spend your money, then use it to buy a good make-up set and beauty products. Young Master will be happy if you're beautiful, and he'll probably call you out more often. 」
「…Yes!」
Her advice was very helpful. I hadn't been thinking anything up until now, and I'd only been using the make-up set given to me by Mom. The Head Maid was right. On my next day off, I would go to the market and find a good make-up set.
Then perhaps young master would look at me more, and he might even hold me lovingly again. For me, that was a very attractive thing.